Merton council taking action against owner of ‘crumbling’ Mitcham pub

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Action could soon be taken against the owners of a “crumbling” Mitcham pub, which houses squatters and where the car park has been turned into a scrapyard and car workshop.

The Burn Bullock, opposite Mitcham Cricket Green, has been closed for more than 10 years.

Merton council is now bringing action against the owners of the building for allegedly not getting planning permission to use it for housing.

The deteriorating building sits next to the pavilion of Mitcham Cricket Club – believed by some to be the oldest club in the world.

Matches have taken place on the green over the road since 1685.

The Burn Bullock is owned by Phoenix Investments, which in 2016 unveiled plans to redevelop it into flats with a pub on the ground floor.

However, now the architect involved in the plans says it is looking to develop a care home at the back of the site, which would also see the cricket pavilion extended.

Marcus Beale Architects said Phoenix Investments was currently raising finance for the project and new plans could emerge in the coming months. Marcus Beale said the historic pub would be conserved as part of this plan.

At a planning meeting last night the council’s planning enforcement officer, Raymond Yeung, said issues with the unauthorised use of the pub for car sales and housing had been “rumbling” on for a few years.

He said: “It is a site that has been occupied by squatters or perhaps people paying rent as informal guardians. It has been turned into what we consider a large HMO (house of multiple occupation) resulting in detriment of the listed building.

“Also the car park has been occupied by various caravans junk, storage scrapyard with people occupying the caravans. There are at least five caravans being occupied by people, it appears, with live electricity wires from the pub going into these caravans and trailers.”

Mr Yeung said he visited the site in December and spoke with a man who said he was renting land at the back of the pub to do up cars before selling them off at auction.

He said the council served enforcement notices to the owners and residents on the old pub in December which required a response in 21 days. As this was not received, the authority is now looking at taking  “formal action”.

Cricket Green councillor Gill Manley said residents have been troubled by the “appalling mess” at the site.

She added: “Local residents have been terrified for the last 10 years that this listed building is going to catch fire or crumble.

“It is a precious building with huge amounts of history so we are very grateful as a community to the council’s response. We do hope we will get some very positive activity as a result of the notices.”

Phoenix Investments declined to comment.

Pictured top: The old Burn Bullock pub and car park are being used as housing and for businesses without permission (Picture: Merton council)